Press Release Nº146/2014

AUC Chairperson attending Women Parliamentarian Global Forum in Kigali

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 30 June, 2014: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma left Addis Ababa on Monday 30 June to attend the second Women in Parliaments’ Global Summit taking place from 1-3 July 2014 in Kigali, Rwanda.

“Women parliamentarians from Africa and around the world are meeting to exchange ideas and strategies on increasing women’s numerical presence in parliaments. Beyond the numbers, we will share lessons and experiences on specific contributions of women in shaping national policies and programmes, when they are in parliament,” Dr. Dlamini Zuma said before departing for Kigali.

While advocating for increased women’s participation in all spheres of governance and development, Dr. Dlamini Zuma will deliver a keynote address on gender balance in politics and its role in social change. She will participate in a panel discussion, and also give a speech at the official dinner and cultural session, to be hosted by the Parliament of Rwanda.

Other speakers at the summit will include among others the President of the Republic of Rwanda H.E. Mr Paul Kagame; Prime Minister of Norway Rt. Hon. Ms Erna Solberg; President of the Senate of Rwanda H.E. Mr Jean Damascene Ntawukuliryayo; UN First Assistant Secretary-General for Safety and Security Ms Clotilde Mbaranga Gasarabwe;
Founder of Women in Parliaments Global Forum (WIP) Ms Silvana Koch-Mehrin; EU Commissioner for Development Mr Andris Piebalgs; and Special Gender Envoy, African Development Bank, Ms Geraldine Fraser Moleketi.

Holding for the first time in Africa, the WIP Summer Summit is being held in cooperation with the Parliament of Rwanda, which for the first time in its history will open its plenary for a conference of a group of female parliamentarians from around the world. The 2014 summit will give participants first hand insights into Rwandan society, built on the values of gender equality and female social, economic and political empowerment.

Jacob Enoh Eben
Ag. Spokesperson of the Chairperson